Furniture slip cover



y 10, 1949- R. w. ROBERTS, JR 2,469,520

FURNITURE smr covnn Filed Jan. 2, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 May 10, 1949. R. w. ROBERTS, JR FURNITURE SLIP COVER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. '2, 1948 Patented May 10, 1949 FURNITURE SLIP COVER Richard W. Roberts, Jr., Richmond, Va., assignor to Crawford Manufacturing Co., Inc., Richmond, Va., a corporation of Virginia Application January 2, 1946, Serial No. 638,678

6 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in furniture covers and particularly to covers. for seats such as upholstered chairs and sofas or divans.

The primary object is to provide a cover capable of being fitted to such furniture more or less regardless of the dimensions or size of the particular piece of furniture to be covered.

As is well known, upholstered furniture of the type mentioned is made in various sizes in that the height and breadth of the back and the height, breadth and length of the arms of such furniture vary considerably. As is also well known, numerous covers have heretofore been designed capable of fitting different sizes of such furniture in order that dealers in said covers need not carry a multitude of sizes of covers in stock and while it has been a comparatively simple matter to compensate for variances in the height of the backs of such furniture, due to the ability to conceal surplus material contained in the cover by tucking it in between the seat and the back and arms of the chair, nevertheless the problems of compensating for variances in the length of arms and width of backs have not been so easily, or satisfactorily solved.

A further object of the invention, therefore, is to provide a cover which can be fitted to arms of different lengths and backs of different breadths neatly so that the covered furniture will have the appearance of being covered with a custom made cover.

More specifically, the invention contemplates an integrated cover as distinguished from a cover composed of a number of separate sections for various portions of the chair, the present onepiece cover having surplus material in the arm and back covering portions thereof, with the surplus material in the arm covering portions in the form of extensions for adapting the cover to furniture having comparatively long arms, and

with said extensions so arranged and correlated extensions for covering the shoulders or sides of the chair back, the side extensions having free edges arranged to fold over the chair back and be secured to folded position. The side extensions may thus be adjusted to snugly fit the shoulder portion of the chair. Another important feature of the invention resides in the arrangement of cords along the front panel terminating at the meeting line between front and rear panels, and alined with the side edges of a rear panel so tension on the rear panel tensions the cords so they will retain surplus material tucked beneath them.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in certain details of construction and combinations and arrangements of parts, all as will hereinafter be more fully described and the novel features thereof particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the present cover with those portions for covering th arms and back of an upholstered chair spread out for purposes of illustration;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view, taken from the rear of the chair, showing particularly the application of the present cover to the rear of the chair but with the rear panel detached;

Fig. 3 is a detail view, partly broken away, illustrating the manner in which the cover is fitted to the front of the chair back;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a rear elevational view of the cover completely installed on a chair; and

Fig. 6 is a detail perspective view taken from the rear of the chair arm illustrating the manner in which the cover may be adjusted to accommodate chair backs of different heights and chair arms of different lengths.

In the particular style of cover used for purposes of illustration, a front panel which covers the front of the chair back is indicated at Ill and is connected along a meeting line at its upper edge with a rear panel I l which covers the majorportion of the rear of the chair back. At its lower edge, front panel Ill merges into the seat cover portion I2 to the side edges of which are attached the arm covering portions and to the forward edge of which is attached a front covering portion which may take various forms depending upon the style of the chair. Each of said arm covering portions consists of four sections or areas which, for convenience, are termed the arm front.covering area I, the inner arm covering area IS, the outer arm covering area I 6 andthe area I! intermediate the inner and outer areas l5, IQ for covering the top of the arm. All of said portions are united in an integral structure and the overall length of the cover from the upper edge of front panel In to the lower front edge and the overall width of said back portion, seat portion and front portion is such that the cover will substantially fit a chair of maximum size. However, when the cover is placed on a chair of smaller size certain portions of the excess material is disposed of by tucking it into the space between the seat and the back and arms of the chair. For instance, the excessive length of the back and seat portions is tucked between the seat or cushion and the chair back, as indicated at A, and the excess material width-wise the seat is tucked in the spaces between opposite sides of the seat and the chair arms, as indicated at B.

Also, when the cover is placed on a chair of less than maximum width, the excess material cross-wise the upper area of front panel I is disposed of or concealed by overlapping the excess material in pleats which extend vertically of the front of the chair back adjacent opposite side edges of the latter. This tucking in or overlapping of material at these points is greatly facilitated by providing the cover with means which will also serve to securely retain the overlapped portions in that relationship and in their proper positions on the chair back. For instance, vertically extending tapes or cords 18 may be arranged to' extend longitudinally upwardly on front panel l0 and terminating at the meeting line between the front panel 10 and the rear panel ll. Each tape l8 aifords what might be termed a finger hold in that it can be readily gripped with the fingers of one hand to hold the cover along the line defined by the tape while the excess material which is located at the outer side of the tape can be tucked in under the side edges of that portion of the cover intermediate the two tapes, as indicated at 30 To securely bind the overlapped areas of the cover beneath the tapes, the latter are adapted to be placed under tension by the back panel II when said panel is finally fastened in place. Preferably, the tapes l8 extend to the meeting line between the front and rear panels where they terminate in alinement with the side edges of said panel. The rear panel II is of a width equal to the distance between the tapes H3, and is provided along its side edges with suitable fastening means so that when said panel is finally attached as will be later described, it is placed under tension vertically or pulled downwardly so as to subject the tapes Hi to a certain amount of tension, sumcient to pull said tapes rather tightly across the upper edge of the chair back and, as will be apparent, the tapes will thus securely retain the overlapped or tucked in material of front panel l0 against accidental shifting so that this area of the cover will always present the appearance of 'a neat fit regardless of the size of the chair to which it is applied. It will be appreciated that by attaching the back panel ll along its edges the maximum tensional strains exerted by the fastening elements on said panel are localized along the edges of the panel and by reason of the fact that the width of said panel substantially corresponds to the transverse spacing of the tapes l8, these tapes are in alinement with the lines of maximum stresses on the back panel so that a maximum binding or gripping effect of the tapes on the surplus material beneath them is assured.

The outer arm covering portions I6 are of sufficient length to permittheir rear ends to extend partially across the rear of the chair back as indicated at l6 and attached to the rear edges of these portions are tie tapes 1! by which the portions 5, Hi can be drawn and secured in intimate contact with the outer sides of the chair arms. Similarly, front panel 10 is formed with side extensions Ill at its side edges to provide material which covers the side surfaces or shoulders of the chair back. These side extensions have free edges which extend partially around the rear of the chair back where they may be secured, as by the tapes 20 attached to saidextensions. To form pockets to accommodate the sides or shoulders on the back rest of a chair, side extensions 10 have their upper edges secured to the upper edges of the front panel I0 between the cords l8 where the side edges of the rear panel join the meeting line and the opposite side edges of the front panel. The cut of thes side extensions may vary somewhat for chairs of different designs but in all instances they are of ample length vertically of the chair back to compensate for backs of difierent heights, as excess material at these points can be tucked in at the sides of the back, as shown at 30, or the lower ends of such extensions, in the form of tabs 3|, may be laid fiat on the tops of the chair arms and concealed by the arm covering portions H of the cover as shown in Fig. 2.

To compensate for chair arms of different lengths, the sections I! which cover the tops of the arms are provided with extensions I! more or less in the form of tabs at their rear ends. As indicated in Fig. 2, these tabs can b used to cover the rear ends of comparatively long arms with a portion of each tab turned down around the rear top corner of the arm so that when the extensions l6 are placed around the rear of the chair and fastened with tie tapes IS, the excess length of the tabs I'I will b completely concealed andthe arm covering firmly held in place against shifting toward the front end of the arm. Thus, the tabs I! may be described as being of a width substantially equal to chair arms of maximum width and of a length slightly in excess of the difference in the lengths of the arms of the smallest and largest chair with which the cover is intended to be used.

The rear panel H is provided along its two vertical edges with suitable fastening elements, preferably hooks 2|, and after the tapes l9 and 20 have been tied, as described, the panel is pulled down rather taut against the rear of the chair back and fastened by engaging th hooks in the extensions HI and lli at the rear of the chair. This form of fastening means permits the rear panel II to be attached to said extensions l0, Hi at proper points laterally and vertically of the chair and, as previously described, the vertical adjustment of said panel allows the maximum tension to be placed on the cords or tapes l8 .to insure the retention of those portions of cover section [0 which have been tucked in or overlapped at 30 beneath said tapes. This arrangement eliminates the necessity of extending the cords down the back of the back rest and also permits the free edges of the side extensions to be properly positioned, then obscured by the means for this purpose which are old and well known in the art may also be utilized if desired. The present invention is especially applicable to covers made of woven, substantially unstretchable fabrics as distinguished from knitted or other elastic fabrics which permit covers made therefrom to stretch and accommodate chairs of different sizes. It will also be appreciated that while a single style of chair and cover hasbeen used for purposes of illustrating the present invention, the specific improvements such as the features of taking care of excess material across the back of the cover and at the rear ends of the chair arms are susceptible of use in covers for other styles of chairs. Likewise, as sofas, settees, divans and similar pieces of furniture differ essentially from chairs only in width or breadth, the construction at the arms or ends of such furniture being the same as that of chairs,

the features just specifically mentioned can also be used in covers for sofas or davenports by merely increasing the lateral dimensions of the cover.

What is claimed is:

1. In a chair cover comprising areas for covering the back, seat and arms of the chair, said several areas being secured together into an integrated structure, said arm covering areas each consisting of an inner arm covering portion, an outer arm covering portion and an intermediate portion for covering the top of said arm, said intermediate portion having an extension adapted to partially cover the top of the arm and be folded vertically around the rear end of the arm and said outer arm covering portion having an extension foldable laterally round the rear of the chair in overlapping relationship .with respect to the vertically folded extension of said intermediate portion.

In a chair cover comprising areas for covering the back, seat and arms of the chair, said several areas being secured together into an integrated structure, said arm covering areas each consisting of an inner arm covering portion, an outer arm covering portion and an intermediate pore tion for covering the top of said arm,said intermediate portion having an extension adapted to partially cover th top of the arm and be folded vertically around the rear end of the arm and said outer arm covering portion having an extension foldable laterally around the rear of the chair in overlapping relationship with respect to the vertically folded extension of said'intermediate portion, and tie tapes secured to the extensions of the outer arm covering portions of the arm covering areas for tensioning said outer arm covering portions and their extensions around the chair.

3. In a chair cover comprising areas for covering the back, seat and arms of a chair, said several areas being secured together into an integrated structure, said arm covering areas each consisting of a continuous piece of fabric containing an inner arm covering portion, an outer arm covering portion and an intermediate portion for covering the top of the chair am, said intermediate portion having an extension of tablike formation free of th said inner and outer arm covering portion, said tab being of sufficient length so that the free end portion of the tab can be folded downwardly around the rear end corner of the chair arm, and an extension on the rear end of the outer arm covering portion foldable laterally around the rear of the chair to con-' ceal the downwardly folded end of said tab,

4. In a chair cover comprising areas for covering the back, seat and arms of a chair, said several areas being secured together into an integrated structure, said back covering area having front and rear panels and an intermediate portion for covering the side surfaces of the chair back, said intermediate portion having a tab at its lower end free of the front and rear panels and foldable fiat on the arm of the chair to compensate for chair backs of lesser heights, and said arm covering areas each consisting of inner and outer arm covering portions and an intermediate portion for covering the top of an arm, said intermediate portions having extensions at their rear ends of tab-like formation to compensate for chair arms of different lengths, said intermediate portion and extensions of the arm coverings being adapted to overlie the chair back tabs extending over the chair arms and to be folded downwardly around the rear ends of the chair arms, extensions on the rear ends of the outer arm covering portions foldable around the rear of the chair back over the downwardly folded extension tabs of the arm top covering portions, and tie tapes attached to the outer arm covering. extensions for tensioning the outer arm covering portions and their extensions around the chair whereby theunderlying folded portions of the arm top covering tabs will be securely held against movement longitudinally of the chair arms.

5. In a one-piece slip cover for a flat back chair, a front panel for covering the front of the chair back, side extensions from said front panel for covering the sides of the chair back and having free edges adapted to fold on the rear of the chair back, a rear panel narrower than said front panel and having only its upper edge attached to said front panel along a meeting line corresponding to the top of the chair back, cords attached to said front panel extending longitudinally upwardly thereof and terminating at the junctions of said meeting line with the side edges of said rear panel so said cords are spaced inwardly from the side edges of said front panel and the side extensions thereof, whereby excess material of said front panel between said cords and said side extensions can be tucked under said cords when the cover is applied to a chair having a back of less width than the width of said front panel, and fastening means along the unattached side edges of said rear panel for securing said rear panel to the rear of the chair back and for holding said cords under tension to firmly retain the excess material of said front panel tucked under said cords.

6. In a one-piece slip cover for a flat back chair, a front panel for covering the front of the front panel along a meeting line corresponding to the top of the chair back, cords attached to said front panel extending longitudinally upwardly thereof and terminating at the junctions of said meeting line with the side edges of said rear panel so said cords are spaced inwardly from the side edges of said front panel and the side extensions thereof, whereby excess material of said front panel between said cord and said side extensions can be tucked under said cords when amazon 7 the cover is applied to a chair having a back of less width than the width of said front panel, the top edges of said side extensions being secured to the top edge of said front panel between the side edges of said front and rear panels to form pockets for the shoulder portions oi! the chair, and fastening means along the unattached sid edges of said rear panel for securing said rear panel to the rear of the chair back and for holding said cords under tension to firmly retain the excess material of said front panel tucked under said cords.

RICHARD W. ROBERTS, JR.

REFERENCES crrnn The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

